A Year in Iowa

Clinton packs the house

Jan. 27, 2007

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Fifty weeks from now, on an Iowa night that will probably be similar to this one with snow on the ground and raw cold in its air, this state's presidential caucuses will be held.

Sen. Hillary Clinton will campaign in a lot of rooms across Iowa and the nation between now and next Jan. 14, when Iowa becomes the first state to begin advancing delegates toward the two major parties' 2008 national conventions. But she'll work few rooms smaller than the one she spoke in Saturday night.

Finishing her first day in Iowa as a Democratic party candidate for president, Clinton spoke at a "house party" in the southeast Cedar Rapids Colonial home of Marcia and Daniel Rogers. Marcia, a Democratic activist and president of a human relations consulting firm, said she invited 40 or so people to her house to see Clinton, but 40 somehow turned into about 100.

Throw in a couple dozen press people from outlets ranging from Bloomberg News to the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun newspaper, and it was a crowded house. The living room in which Clinton spoke formally before meeting guests individually, is plenty accomodating for the Rogers family and a few guests. But this night, it felt as stuffed as one of the New York City subways serving Clinton's constituents during rush hour.

Except, of course, that the room's decor was far more inviting and its inhabitants were better-dressed. And, those who enjoy a little vino on the subway seldom have the use of nice wine glasses.

After appearing before about 3,000 people at a rally in Des Moines earlier Saturday, Clinton wanted to have "a conversation with Iowans" in Cedar Rapids that evening. The neighbors next door to left of the Rogers apparently wanted to have their own conversation with Clinton. They put 11 identical signs in their front yard saying "We Stand With President Bush and His Troops."

The word "Bush" was noticeably larger than any other.

But if any staunch Republicans came to see Clinton in person here, they kept it to themselves. Not that everyone was a confirmed member of "Team Hillary," though several put their names on sign-up sheets to indicate they'd be willing to join.

"I have a son who's (a U.S. Army sergeant) in Iraq,'' said Dan Baldwin, the president and CEO of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. "I will try to see all the leading Democratic candidates, maybe even more than once.

"I'll try to listen closely to Governor (Tom) Vilsack to see if he sounds like a governor or a president. I'll listen to Senator Clinton to see if she sounds like a senator or a president.

"My wife has only lived in Iowa for six months. She regrets not seeing John Edwards when he was here last week. I told her not to worry, he'll be back.

"It's a remarkable aspect about living in Iowa."

While the event here had a significantly more far-reaching intent than to persuade a few dozen Cedar Rapidians to campaign for Clinton -- the media wasn't invited strictly to enjoy the Hy-Vee supermarket cold cuts provided for it in the Rogers' basement -- it wasn't without personal moments. Later in her two-hour stay, after most of the press had left, Clinton did have 1-on-5, 1-on-3, even a few 1-on-1 discussions with citizens without anyone apparently nearby to record their comments, or the senator's.

Earlier, while television cameras were present, Dale Todd of Cedar Rapids emphatically thanked Clinton for cosponsoring the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 in the Senate. The bill was signed into law by President Bush last month. It authorized $289 million over five years for state grants to develop programs to help families with special needs children and adults.

Todd's 7-year-old son, Adam, is epileptic. Dale and his wife, Sara Todd, have been to Washington to encourage legislators to fund epliepsy research. Shortly after Clinton's formal remarks to the gathering concluded, Tood spoke up to express his gratitude. He and the senator ended up hugging, and both of their voices cracked. He then introduced his boy to her.

But it didn't end there. Before the night was over, Todd was interviewed by reporters from Time magazine and the Daily Iowan, the University of Iowa's student newspaper. Finally, he was asked to share his comments on videotape for Clinton's Web site. This "conversation with Iowans" was likely going global.
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